Exploring the Influence of Financial Misconduct Due to Online Gambling on the Learning Behavior of College Students

Online gambling has become a major global issue, increasingly linked to financial problems and poor academic performance among college students. This qualitative study investigated how financial misconduct arising from online gambling affects students' learning behavior. Focusing on the real-life experiences of eleven students at Isabela State University, Cauayan Campus, during the 2025–2026 academic year, the research explored how debt, borrowing, and chasing losses influenced their daily learning, academic focus, and overall well-being. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews and examined using thematic analysis. The study found that social media exposure, peer influence, curiosity, financial struggles, and gambling promotions are the primary catalysts for online betting. Financial misconduct led to severe consequences, including cognitive impairment in learning processes, the erosion of academic engagement and responsibility, and a sharp decline in academic performance, particularly in major subjects. Furthermore, students experienced debt as a survival tool, poor financial management, behavioral addiction, compulsion, deceptive behaviors, and significant threats to educational continuity, alongside emotional dysregulation and physical health deterioration. To cope, affected students utilized self-regulation, sought institutional help, and relied on external support systems. Ultimately, these findings underscore the critical need for universities to design comprehensive prevention and support programs. Such initiatives must address both the psychological and financial dimensions of student gambling to safeguard academic success and student well-being.

Academic Performance, Cognitive Impairment, Financial Misconduct, Higher Education, Online Gambling

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